Wrench having adjustable jaws



1957 1... P. STRICKLETT arm. 2,801,562

WRENCH HAVING ADJUSTABLE JAWS Filed March 27, 1956 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2e Q 2/ 3,3 3/ 26 2a 26 J I 27 INVENTORS K v gfoaepfiWfi o alk 1. 52 62 Lloyd PSZfickleZZ BY k 2 y ATro NExs L. P. STRICKLETT EIAL 2,801,562

WRENCH 1mm; ADJUSTABLE JAWS Aug. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1956 INVENTORQ- h m m a rk 4 am United States Patent WRENCH HAVING ADJUSTABLE JAWS Lloyd P. Stricklett and Joseph W. Horvath, Racine, Wis.,

assignors to New Tools Co., Inc., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 27, 1956, Serial No. 574,125 r 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-163) The present invention relates a wrench, and more particularly, to an improvement on the wrench disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 414,683, filed March 8, 1954, now Patent Number 2,743,641, May 1, 1956, and entitled Adjustable Wrench Including Right and Left Thread Sliding Jaw Adjusting Means.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the class generally described above which is adapted to cooperate with spanner type nuts as well as ordinary nuts having hexagonal or octagonal driving faces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the class described above which has an integral reinforced body to Withstand excessive pressures.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable wrench of the heavy duty type in which a wrench head has a removable T-shaped handle with a transversely adjustable crosspiece which is removable from the handle to permit the wrench to be collapsed to a small size.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heavy duty adjustable jaw wrench having means'to lock the jaws in adjusted position permitting the use of the wrench in extremely heavy duty service.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a tranverse cross-section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a lateral cross-section taken generally along the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated. 6 I Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken along the line 66 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

a Figure 7 is a partial view of Figure 6, as viewed from the left of this figure with parts in section.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. l

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally an integral body member which is formed of generally rectangular side plates 21 and 22 which are positioned in parallel spaced apart relation to each other. The side plates 21 and 22 are connected by integral end plates 23 and 24. The end plates 23 and 24 are positioned parallel to each other and spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the space between the side plates 21 and 22 so that the side plates 21 and 22 and the end plates 23 and 24 form an elongated rectangular frame 25.

2,801,562 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 A plate 26 is integrally formed with the side member 21 with the plate 26 outwardly offset from the side member 21 as illustrated in Figure 3. The lower end of the plate 26 tapers inwardly as at 27 terminating in the plane of the outer surface of the side member 21. The plate 26 is substantially shorter than the side member 21 and extends substantially above the side member 21. A rib 28 projects outwardly from the plate 26 and extends vertically from the top edge 29 of the plate 26 to the bottom edge 30 of the side member 21. a r j The side member 22 has a similar plate 31 integrall formed therewith and outwardly offset therefrom the same as the plate 26. The lower end 32 of the plate 31 is likewise tapered inwardly terminating in the plane of the outer face of the side member 22. A rib 33 extends vertically on the plate 31 and projects outwardly therefrom. The rib 33 extends from the top edge 34 of the plate 31 to the bottom edge 35 of the side member 22.

A cross member 36 extends between the upper end portions of the plates 26 and31 and is integrally joined thereto in spaced apart relation to the side members 21 and 22. The cross member 36 is provided with a rec tangular socket 37 which extends vertically therethrough for purposes to be assigned. A set screw 38 extends through the cross member 36 and projects into the socket 37, as illustrated in Figure 2.

An extension handle 39, the lower end of which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, projects into the socket 37 and is secured therein by the set screw 38. The extension handle 39 is adapted to have any desirable cooperating cross member (not shown) associated therewithfor opera,- tion of the wrench. t t l t A shaft 40 is positioned between the side members 21 and 22 in equispaced parallel relation thereto. The shaft 40 is provided with a reduced medial portion 41, a threaded portion 42 extending between the reduced medial portion 41 at one end thereof and having its opposite end termie nating short of one end of the shaft 40. A second threaded portion 43 is provided with threads extending oppositely to those of the threaded portion 42 with the inner end thereof terminating at the reduced medial portion 41 and the outer end thereof terminating adjacent the other, endof the shaft 40. it

, The end 44 of the shaft 40 adjacent the threaded pore tion 42 is provided with a cylindrical outer surface which is journalled in an end 45 in the end member 23 of the. frame 25. A cylindrical bore portion 46 is provided on the shaft 40 adjacent the outer end of the threaded portion 43. A bore 46 is provided in the end member 24 to journal the cylindrical portion 47 of the shaft 40. The bore 47 has one side thereof tapered as at 48 to permit the shaft 40 to be assembled into the frame 25. The shaft 40 outwardly of the cylindrical portion 46 is provided with a reduced retainer groove 49 which is delineated on its opposite side by a collar 50 spaced from the cylindrical portion 46. A square driving shank 51 is provided on the terminal end of the shaft 40 in axial alignment there-, with. l

A retainer plate 52, as best seen in Figure 9, is secured to the end member 24 by means of a screw 53'. A slot 54' extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the retainer plate 52 and is adapted to engage over the retainer groove 49 so, that the retainer plate 52 engages against the opposite edges of the retainer groove 49 to secure the shaft 40 in the frame 25.

A generally arcuate jaw 53 is positioned beneath the frame 25 and has an integral rectangular shank 54 which is positioned between the side members 21 and 22 and extends upwardly to a point short to the top edges'SS and 56, respectively, of the side members 21 and 22. The arcuate' jaw 53 is provided with a pair of opposed shoulders 57 and 58 which engage under the lower edges 30 and 35 respectively of the side members 21 and 22 and carry flanges 59 and 60, respectively, which extend up- Wardly over the side faces of the side members 21 and 22. The arcuate jaw 53 has a pair of converging faces 61 and 62 formed on the lower end edge thereof for engaging the driving surfaces of a nut. The converging faces 61 and 62 of the arcuate jaw 53 have a semi-cylindrical recess 63 "formed therebetween projecting radially outwardly into the arcuate jaw 53.

The shank 54 of the arcuate jaw 53 is provided with a transversely extending threaded bore 64 which is adapted to engage over the threaded portion 453 of the shaft 40. A clamp plate 65 is provided with a vertical bore 66 extending therethrough and is positioned on the top edges 55 and 56 of the side members 21 and 22, respectively. The clamp plate 65 is provided with a downwardly offset central portion 67 which projects into the space between the side members 21 and 22 and aligns the clamping plate '65 therewith.

A vertical extending threaded bore 68 is formed in the shank 54 in alignment with the bore 66 in the clamping plate 65. A cap screw 69 extends through the bore 66 in the clamping plate 65 and into the threaded bore 68 of the shank 54 to clamp the shoulders 57 and 58 against the side members 21 and 22 locking the arcuate jaw 53 in adjusted position within the frame 25.

An arcuate jaw 70 is positioned oppositely in facing relation to the arcuate jaw 53 and is provided with a rectangular shank 71 which extends upwardly between the side members 21 and 22 terminating at a point short of the top edges 55 and 56 thereof. The arcuate jaw 70 is provided with shoulders, one of which is shown at 72, identical to the shoulders 57 and 58 of the jaw 53. Each of the shoulders 72 is provided with an upstanding flange 73 to engage over the outer face of the side members 21 and 22 in order to guide the jaw 70 with relation to the frame 25.

The lower end of the arcuate jaw 70 terminates in a pair of converging flat nut drive face engaging faces 74 and 75 which terminate at their inner ends in a semicylindrical groove 76 which extends vertically of the jaw 70 and projects radially outwardly from the plane of the faces 74 and 75. A clamping plate 77 is engaged against the top edges 55 and 56 of the side members 21 and 22 and has a central offset portion 78 which extends downwardly between the side members 21 and 22. The clamping plate 77 is provided with a vertical bore 79 which extends therethrough. The shank 71 is provided with a vertically extending threaded bore 80 which is aligned with the bore 79 in the clamping plate 77 and is secured thereto by cap screw 81. A transversely threaded bore 83 extends through the shank 71 and engages over the threaded portion 42 of the shaft 40.

A key 84 is adapted to be positioned in the grooves 63 and 76. A tapered flange 85 extends vertically in integral relation to the key 84 and is adapted to engage over the arcuate portion of the jaws 53 and 70 to assist in maintaining the key 84 in position within the jaws 53 and 70.

In the use and operation of the invention, the jaws 53 and 70 are adjusted toward and away from each other by rotation of the shaft 40 with its cooperating screw threaded portions 42 and 43. The cap screws 69 and 81 are tightened drawing the clamping plates 65 and 77 into clamping engagement with the side members 21 and 22 thus locking the jaws 53 and 70 in their adjusted positions. A handle member 39 is locked into socket 37 by means of the set screw 38 so that the wrench can be manipulated. The jaws 53 and 70 can be adjusted before being placed on a nut to be removed or tightened or they can be adjusted in some cases after the wrench has been applied to the nut.

In manipulating a spanner nut such as that illustrated a: at 86 where the nut is provided with spanner openings 87, a key 84 is positioned in the groove 76 with the key 84 engaging in the spanner openings 87 of the spanner nut 86. Obviously, rotation of the wrench will cause rotation of the spanner nut 86 in such cases.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench comprising a pair of side walls extending parallel to and spaced apart from each other, a pair of end walls extending in integral relation between said side walls and parallel to each other, a pair of offset upwardly extending members integrally secured to said side walls, integral means connecting the upper ends of said members at a point spaced apart from said side walls, said means having a polygonal socket extending therethrough, a set screw projecting through said means and communicating with said polygonal socket, a pair of wrench jaw forming members slidably engaging the lower edges of said side walls, a pair of upwardly projecting flanges carried by each jaw member and engaging the outer faces of said side walls for restraining said jaws against tuming with relation to said side walls, a polygonal shank integral with each jaw and slidably engaging between said side walls, a shaft journalled in said end walls and extending through said shanks cooperating reverse screw means on said shaft and said shanks for moving said shanks on said shaft upon rotation of said shaft, said shaft having an annular groove formed therein adjacent one end thereof, means on said end wall engaging in said annular groove for restraining said shaft against movement in an axial direction, adjustable clamps carried by said shanks and engaging the edges of said side walls, a handle engaged in said polygonal socket and locked therein by said set screw, reinforcing ribs integrally formed on the outer faces of said offset members with said ribs extending to the lower edge of said side members, nut engaging faces formed in converging relation on the lower end of each of said jaw members, said faces having a groove formed between the inner edges thereof, and a spanner nut driving key detachably engaged in said groove.

2. A wrench comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls connecting the ends of the side walls, a pair of upwardly extending members secured to the side walls, means connecting the upper ends of said members, said last named means having a polygonal socket extending therethrough, a handle engaged in said polygonal socket, a pair of wrench jaw forming members slidably engaging the lower edges of the side walls and having means thereon for restraining the jaws against turning with relation to the side walls, a shank integral with each jaw and extending between the side walls, a shaft journaled in said end walls and extending through said shanks, cooperating reverse screw threads on said shaft and in said shanks for moving said shanks upon rotation of the shaft, adjustable clamps carried by said shanks and engaging the edges of the side walls, nut engaging faces formed in converging relation on the lower end of each of said jaw members, said faces having a groove formed between the inner edges thereof and a spanner nut driving key detachably engaged in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,793 Driver Apr. 7, 1891 837,272 Allen Dec. 4, 1906 850,819 Davis Apr. 16, 1907 897,857 Spaulding Sept. 1, 1908 1,035,886 Markus Aug. 20, 1912 1,047,046 Gronkowski Dec. 10, 1912 2,112,565 Hare Mar. 29, 1938 2 4 Stric de at a M y 1956 

